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Page 42
Well, why not? Had she not just said that mating was a meaningless act without love? It was a cheap price to pay for time to gather her forces, and it might not come to that. A fatal accident could easily befall the man before marriage actually took place. No, not fatal, and not before. A glow woke in the depths of Alinor's eyes. She had a worse fate prepared for any henchman of King John's who wished to take her in marriage. She would indeed marry him, and she would be a tender and loving wife to the crippled, speechless, sightless hulk that would remain when her men were finished with him. That would be of multiple benefit. She would have her husband's property to administer, and she would be protected from still another marriage.
At this point a frown crinkled Alinor's brow. Would Ian bring such news? It seemed most unlikely, unless the man chosen was respectable. The first supporter John had chosen for Alinor had been a decent man. If that were so Little, bright sparkles came into Alinor's eyes to brighten their glow further. If that were so, Alinor thought, I will soon have a willing slave to do my bidding. But that would be too easy. A decent man was not likely, because Ian had asked what grudge John had against her. Unless the king had mentioned the matter, what could have recalled that old, old incident to Ian's mind? Simon could not have spoken of it recently.
The idea, which slipped so quickly in and out of Alinor's mind and which she accepted without examination, led her astray. In fact, the last thing Simon had ever spoken to Ian about was King John's grudge. Two months before Simon died, Ian had been summoned to serve in the king's expeditionary force to France. He had offered to buy release from that service so that he could continue to act as Simon's deputy. The dying man had considered and then refused. It was more important, he said, for Ian to see how King John reacted

 
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